Why Can Most Malayalees Speak Tamil, But Fewer Tamilians Understand Malayalam?

The linguistic dynamics between Malayalees from Kerala and Tamilians from Tamil Nadu, can be attributed to a myriad of interconnected factors that span geography, history, media, education, and cultural identity. This article delves into these factors to explain why Malayalees can typically speak Tamil with relative ease, while many Tamilians struggle to understand Malayalam.

Geographical Proximity

Geographical Proximity: Kerala and Tamil Nadu share a long border, leading to significant cultural and linguistic interaction. Many Malayalees live close to Tamil Nadu, increasing their exposure to the Tamil language. This frequent contact facilitates a blending of languages, with Malayalam borrowing many words from Tamil, making it somewhat easier for Malayalees to understand Tamil.

Historical Influence

Historical Influence: The history of trade, migration, and intermarriage between the two regions has played a crucial role in facilitating a linguistic blending. This interaction has not only enriched Malayalam but also simplified it for Tamilians to understand. For instance, 80% of Malayalam words can be easily understood by Tamil speakers, as they are often Sanskrit-based, a common feature between the two languages.

Media and Education

Media and Education: In Kerala, Tamil films, music, and television shows are immensely popular, leading to greater exposure to the Tamil language. Conversely, in Tamil Nadu, there is a strong emphasis on preserving the Tamil language and culture. This can limit the exposure of Tamil speakers to Malayalam. In schools, Malayalam is the medium of instruction, but this does not apply to Tamil Nadu, where Tamil is forced on students, further reinforcing its use.

Linguistic Differences

Linguistic Differences: While both Malayalam and Tamil belong to the Dravidian language family, they have distinct phonetic and grammatical structures. Malayalam has a more complex script and vocabulary influenced by Sanskrit, which can make it challenging for Tamilians to learn. However, this complexity can be an advantage for Malayalees who speak Tamil, as they can readily understand the nuances of the language.

Cultural Identity

Cultural Identity: Tamil speakers often prioritize their language for cultural and political reasons, resulting in less incentive to learn Malayalam. In contrast, Malayalees may learn Tamil for practical reasons, such as work or social interaction. The cultural pride around Tamil in Tamil Nadu means that it is not seen as a survival language, unlike Malayalam in Kerala.

Historical and Economic Migration

Historical and Economic Migration: Malayalees from Kerala have migrated to different parts of India and the Middle East in search of employment. They often migrated to Bombay (now Mumbai) initially, where they found jobs as waiters, clerks, and accountants. However, as the aspirations of these migrants were not met in Bombay, many of them moved to other cities like Chennai, where they started businesses. Many started tea shops, while others opened bakeries, often referred to as Chetta kadai (Mallus said bread shops) and Nair tea shops.

During these migrations, Malayalees had to learn other languages for their 'survival', as Kerala did not offer a good livelihood at the time. They were willing to work in any capacity in other states but not in their home state of Kerala. Tamilians did not have to learn Malayalam as they did not migrate to Kerala for survival reasons. Today, the situation is reversed. There is a significant migrant population in Kerala due to the lack of employment opportunities, and since Malayalees prefer to speak other languages, there is little pressure on migrants to learn Malayalam.

Conclusion

Overall, the combination of geographical proximity, historical interactions, media influence, educational emphasis, and cultural factors contributes to why many Malayalees can speak Tamil, while fewer Tamilians speak or understand Malayalam. Understanding these factors can provide valuable insights into the linguistic and cultural dynamics that shape language usage in South India.